The eyes are the window to the soul, or so we're often told. It's probably not surprising, then, that eyes are one of the most common BodyMotifs.When eyes turn up in a symbolic role, they are normally linked to themes of perception, vigilance, and, occasionally, [[ThirdEye psychic powers]]. On a more ominous level, eyes can be linked to deception, illusion and being under constant surveillance. They are also linked to appearances -- both the superficial and the ability to see something's true nature.

As with all motifs, the motif can take the form of an ''actual'' eye, or simply a symbol of one: for example, a tattoo, a piece of jewellery or other MacGuffin, or a sign on a wall. It's also worth remembering that eyes are [[EyeScream extremely vulnerable]], so the motif might be the absence of an eye. In such circumstances, the theme may become blindness (both literal and metaphorical) and compromised perception.----!!Examples:

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[[folder:Anime and Manga]]* Each [[MacGuffin Millennium Item]] except for the Millennium Key in ''Manga/YuGiOh'' has an eye on it somewhere.* ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion ''and [[RebuildOfEvangelion Rebuild]] features several including: SEELE's logo, Asuka's EyeScream of [=EoE=] (and it's reference to it in Rebuild), Sahaquiel and several more if one looks for them.* In ''SoulEater'' [[BiggerBad Asura]] the [[HumanoidAbomination Kishin]] has a symbol which consists of three eyes turned on their sides. Pretty relevant since his "thing" is madness (distorted perception) born from paranoia (hence the extra eye). People who're going insane frequently hallucinate faces (their own and others) being replaced with one with the symbol in place of its eyes.* [[spoiler:Pride]] in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. Most of his attacks involve shadows, which are depicted as covered in eyes.* The [[AncientArtifact Jagan Eye]] in ''{{YuYu Hakusho}}'' is one of Hiei's major themes - it gives him several mental powers, as well as glowing when he uses Dark Flame techniques.* Hellsing uses several Eye Motifs.** [[BoringInvincibleHero Alucard]] is able to summon a [[LovecraftianSuperpower black mass]] with thousands eyes in it. As stated later each eye represents a life (human or non-human) that Alucard [[LifeDrinker absorbed]] at some point in his unlife. [[spoiler:It is later implied, that he is no longer himself by adapting parts of the others personalities. After Alucard absorbs [[MeaningfulName Schrödinger's]] life, he has to perceive himself in order to exist, which is no longer possible since his life is one of three million in himself. Right before Alucard stops existing the eyes close.]]** Whenever [[NaiveNewcomer Seras]] uses her vampire powers her eyes turn from blue to red. [[spoiler:After accepting [[IAmWhatIAm her vampire-self]] and sucking [[BadassNormal Pip Bernadotte's]] blood, her eyes turn red permanently.]] However this can also be a case of RedEyesTakeWarning.** Every vampire has a ThirdEye that can aim perfectly over several miles though darkness and see through any kind of illusion.* The mysterious entity in ''Anime/ShamanicPrincess'' known as the Throne of Yord can take the form of anything it wants, but if it has a true form, it would be an eye. There are numerous stylized eye images used represent it, from a giant, multi-colored, eye-shaped stained glass window to a primitive stone carving.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Film]]* In ''Film/BladeRunner'', the use of a 'shining eyes' technique is deliberately used by the film directors to denote replicants (Androids) and man-made animals giving the aesthetics view of a lens' flare.** The film opens with the futuristic landscape reflected in the close-up of an eye. When the Tyrell building comes into view, it evokes the image of the pyramid with the all-seeing eye above it. Replicants can be recognized by an eye exam. Photographs (the eye of the camera) are important to Replicants. Pris' makeup is all white, except for a strip of red across her eyes. The Replicants locate Tyrell via the man who made their eyes. [[spoiler:When Batty finally meets Tyrell, he gouges his eyes out. When Batty dies, he tells Decker of the wonders his eyes have seen.]]* In ''[[Film/TwoThousandOneASpaceOdyssey 2001: A Space Odyssey]]'', HAL communicates via the red eye of its camera, and we see the lightshow of the stargate reflected in Bowman's eye.* Eyes are a motif in ''Film/MinorityReport''. Among them:** The pre-cogs "see" crimes before they happen in their mind's eye.** People's eyes are constantly scanned at checkpoints for identity verification.** Anderton has his eyes replaced to hide his identity from scanners and the spiders.** In the opening sequence, the "pre-criminal" Howard Marks returns home for his glasses ("You know how blind I am without them"), only to find his wife in bed with another man.*** Earlier his son plunges a pair of scissors through the eyes of a cardboard picture of Abraham Lincoln, the same instrument Howard later attempts to drive into his unfaithful wife's eyes.** The drug dealer who sells Anderton his narcotics has no eyes so he cannot be identified.** Agatha asks Anderton several times throughout the film, "Can you see?", a physical as well as metaphysical question.** "The eyes of the nation are upon us," Director Burgess tells Anderton in warning him about the upcoming vote on the Pre-Crime Unit.** Whenever the cops see Anderton (or any other pre-criminal), they say, "We have eyes on him."* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Coraline}}'', the titular character discovers an alternate, seemingly perfect version of her own world in which everyone's nicer, the food's better, and everyone has buttons for eyes. She's given the chance to stay forever if she sews buttons into her ''own'' eyes. A recurring motif throughout the film isn't a human eye, but rather a doll's eye- a round, black, button with four holes in the middle.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In {{The Outsiders}}, all of the Greasers have discriptions early on in the book. This book also likens the colors green and gold. Ponyboy, Darry, and Cherry all have green(ish) eyes and are therfore "gold"* In ''ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'', the symbol for VFD is an eye.* The Eye of Sauron in ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings''.* In ''Literature/{{Illuminatus}}'', the eye in the pyramid is the symbol of the Illuminati.* Eyes appear as a motif in ''Literature/TheGreatGatsby'', especially those of a billboard.* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', the titular character has his mother's GreenEyes. This probably reflects his "deepest nature" being more like his mother than his father, despite his outward appearance mostly resembling James.* In ''Literature/TheBluestEye'', the main character longs to have blue eyes. Eyes also appear symbolically in the story in the form of a flashlight and film projector.* [[BigBrotherIsWatching Eyes]] have become a symbol of George Orwell's ''Literature/NineteenEightyFour''.* In Franchise/{{Dune}}, a side effect of using the drug Melange is that your eyes turn blue.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]* In ''HerculesTheLegendaryJourneys'', Hera, the queen of the gods, appears as a pair of floating eyes, which are also peacock feathers.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Music]]* One of the recurrincg motifs in RonnieJamesDio's music is eyes.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Mythology]]* Argus Panoptes from Greek mythology; the giant with many eyes (different account give him from 4 to 100 eyes), who was the watcher of Io.* The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_of_Providence Eye of Providence]] is an eye symbol usually combined with a pyramid or triangle, which was originally used by the Horus cult of ancient Egypt. It was adopted by gnostic Christianity, and has since become representative of the Illuminati and later Freemasonry. It is part of the Great Seal of the United States of America. The idea of the eye as symbolic of omniscience or mystical intelligence probably originates from this.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Theatre]]* Eyes are arguably the most prominent motif in''Theatre/OedipusTheKing'' and, to a lesser extent, the whole trilogy. The most famous example of this is Oedipus [[spoiler: ripping his own eyes out of his head.]]* In [[Theatre/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory the 2013 musical adaptation]] of ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'', Willy Wonka's songs and dialogue are rife with references to sight and eyes, reflecting his gift for imagining amazing things and making them manifest in the real world (that is to say, he's a [[{{Pun}} visionary]]). This motif is most prominent in his first song, the Act One closer "It Must Be Believed to Be Seen".[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* The Reaverbots of ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends'' are usually associated with their round red eye, with Reaverbot bosses having the eye shown in their health bars. [[spoiler:Eden]] at the end of the first game also has a large eye symbol on its underside.** These Reaverbot eyes also show up in Hyleg Ourobockle's and Burble Hekelot's stages in ''VideoGame/MegaManZero 2''.* In ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series, Ganondorf, Agahnim, and the Sheikah Tribe tend to have a recurring eye motif. Vaati, however, takes the cake, with most of his OneWingedAngel forms being based around an eye. In ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheMinishCap The Minish Cap]]'', when he [[spoiler:takes over Hyrule Castle]], he even decorates the place with eye markings.* Many ''{{VideoGame/Kirby}}'' enemies and bosses have prominent eye motifs; ex. Kracko, Waddle Doo, Wheelie, etc. They are especially prominent in a number of final boss {{One Winged Angel}} forms; ex. Drawcia Soul, Magolor Soul, Zero, and Dark Nebula.* In the ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}'' franchise, the seal of the Horadrim order includes what could be a pair of very stylised eyes, dripping, within a triangle.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Webcomics]]* In ''Drowtales'', the [[http://wiki.drowtales.com/index.php/Val%27Kyorl%27solenurn Val'Kyorl'solenurn clan]]'s symbol is the eye of an aware. It's embroidered onto the front lower panel of clothing and battle flags, as well as tattooed onto the forehead.** The symbol of the imperial family is nine gemstones shaped like eyes.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other]]* The Eye of Providence, an illuminating eye usually enclosed by a triangle represents God and the Trinity. It is probably most known today for being on the reverse of the Great Seal of the United States (above the unfinished pyramid), which in turn is recognizable by most for being on the reverse of the one dollar bill.* {{CBS}}'s corporate logo is a simplified eye. Sometimes played with in CBS Sports CGI, where the outer circle becomes a basketball, the cornea a football, and the iris a baseball or soccer ball.* The [[AncientEgypt ancient Egyptian]] Eye of Horus was a symbol of protection.** It morphed into the physician's "Rx" logo, at least according to some theories.* The Pinkerton National Detective Agency, the first private detective agency in America, used an all-seeing eye as its logo.[[/folder]]----